Brenda Arcilesi

Brenda Jo Arcilesi

August 10,1954 – October 16, 2026

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away October 16, 2026, after 72 wonderful years of life. She was born to Ruth Bean and George Lars Hansen in Monteview, Idaho and grew up on a potato farm with 7 siblings. At a young age, she learned the value of hard work and selflessness, recounting to her children many times how she used her school breaks to harvest potatoes as the family didn’t have a combine machine. She developed a love for Jesus Christ at a young age and told stories of sharing her culture with other hired hands’ children on the family farm. She exchanged bread for tortillas.

In 1972, she was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Norway. She loved the people of Norway and decided to name her first daughter Kirsten to honor her experiences there. She recalled how they lined up their infant children in strollers outside of their apartment buildings to acclimatize them to the cold weather and high snowbanks.

She later attended Utah State University and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Education. At Utah State University, she met her lifelong sweetheart and eternal companion, David Joseph Arcilesi. He kept pacing by her as she was eating an orange one day. She innocently thought he was hungry and offered him some of her orange. He quickly declined the offer. He had much bigger plans in store.

They were married for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 25, 1981. They first moved to an apartment in Bountiful, Utah with David working as an accountant at JC Penney and quickly increasing their family size with David Joseph Junior born in 1982, Kirsten Leigh born in 1984, Amanda Lynne born in 1986, and Natalie Anne born in 1990.

Brenda loved to serve her community and was active in the church her entire life. She served on the Relief Society, Young Women’s, and Primary Organizations and was a talented pianist and organ player. She also embraced her pioneer heritage and was a talented seamstress, often producing quilts of fine quality and making matching dresses for her three daughters throughout their childhood. She had a green thumb and taught her daughters the art of gardening, canning and preparing homemade breads and sweets. She was a talented interior decorator and entertainer: always prepared with homemade cookies in her freezer for any guests or neighbors in need. She touched countless lives by teaching piano for 35 years.

Brenda was the best Grandma. She took her grandkids hiking or on adventures at the creek. They loved baking German pancakes or cannoli’s with her and she ALWAYS let them add more sugar to their fruit. “Love you forever, love you for always”

Brenda is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years, David, and her four cherished children: David Joseph Junior, Kirsten Leigh Richards (Justin), Amanda Lynne Arcilesi Simmons (Nathan), Natalie Anne Arcilesi (Trevor), her two outstanding grandchildren: Sebastian and Cecilia, her mother Ruth Bean Hansen and seven siblings: Carrie Fausett (Bob), Cody Telford, Jackie Pfeiffer (Lee), Kent Hansen (Ann) Debbie Ball (Robert), Chad Hansen (Heather) and Kirt Hansen (Sandra). She is preceded in death by her father: George Lars Hansen.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 11:00am at the Little Cottonwood Ward (9880 South 3100 East) with Bishop Jordan Buttars officiating. The family will receive visitors Friday, October 23, 2026, from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary (1950 E. Dimple Dell Road), and on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Little Cottonwood Ward from 9:30am to 10:30am. Interment will be at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery, (1950 E. Dimple Dell Road) at 1:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Huntsman Cancer Institute. https://give.huntsmancancer.org/page/67433/donate/1